Golf tee



Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNI-TED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The principal object which I have in view is the provision of an improved golf tee which will prevent the scoring and wearing away of the turf and which may be located in a xed position without impairment of its usefulness.

Another object is the provision of a tee which may be adjusted to support the ball at the elevation above the turf desired by the player or dictated by the character of the hole to be played.

Other objects will appear from the following description.

Generally my improved golf tee comprises a base arranged to be embedded in the soil and a ball support mounted on said base. The support is preferably adjustable as to height relative to the ground.

In the preferable embodiment of my invention the ball support is removably mounted on the base. Thus if desired the players may have their individual ball supports which they carry with them over the course.

The ball support may be provided with a concaved upper surface to directly receive the ball, or such support may be provided with a hole in which the stem of the conventional wooden tee may be stuck, the elevation of the ball above the turf being regulated by the degree to which the stern is inserted in the hole in the ball support.

The base may be made of metal, Wood, relatively .hard rubber or similar material. Its upper surface which is substantially flush with the ground is preferably of rubber.

A rubber apron or extension preferably extends rearwardly and inclines downwardly to prevent the front edge of the club striking the edge of the rubber surface.

The ball support is also preferably of rubber.

In the accompanying drawing wherein I have illustrated practical embodiments of the principles of my invention, Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section taken along the line l--I in Fig. 2, and showing one form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3--3 in Fig. 2, the ball support being shown rotated ninety degrees from its position in Fig. 1, so as to be removed from the base.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the adjustment nipple.

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of the ball support.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modification, the section being taken along the lines 6-6 in Fig. 7.

Fig. '7 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 8 is a cross section taken along the lines 8 8 in Fig. 7, showing the ba'll support rotated ninety degrees from its position in Fig. 6 so as to be removed from the base.

Fig. 9 isa side elevation of the ball support.

Fig. 10 is another elevation of the same turned ninety degrees from its position in Fig. 9.

Referring first to Figs. l to 5 inclusive, I represents the base which is embedded in the ground below the level of the turf indicated at 2. Preferably the base is elongated transversely to the line of drive and it may have converging top surfaces 3 to provide a better anchorage in the soil. The top center portion of the base forms a horizontal platform.

The center of the base is provided with a vertical cylindrical bore 4. If the base be made of metal the bore is internally threaded. If however the base be made of rubber, wood or other non-metallic material, the bore is provided with an internally threaded steel bushing 5 xed in said bore. The bushing 5 stops short of the upper end of the bore 4.

Screwed into the bushing 5 is an exteriorly threaded metal nipple 6, which adjacent its upper end is provided with an exterior annular rib 1 which overlies the upper end of the bushing 5 and thus prevents dirt from dropping down into the intermeshing threads.

At two diametrically opposite points the upper end of the nipple 6 is provided with seats 8 cut down into the wall of the nipple from the top thereof with their bottoms above the rib l.

9 represents a steel plate of the proper dimensions to fit on the at top of the base l. This plate has a central circular opening of substantially the same diameter as that of the bore of the nipple 6, and at two diametrically opposite points said plate is provided with notches or openings Which extend outwardly to the full diameter of the bore 4 in the base l.

l0 represents a rubber plate of like dimensions as the metal plate 9 and also provided with a like central opening and radially extending notches. The central opening of the plate I0 is indicated at Il and the notches are indicated at I2. The opening and notches of the two plates register with each other.

The plate I0 is superimposed on the plate 9 and the latter on the base l and screws at I3 hold the plates in place.

The top surface of the plate I0 is supposed to be ush with the turf surface 2.

At the rear of the tee-that is, in thedirection opposite to the flight of the ball the rubber, plate I0 is provided with a rearwardly extending apron I4 which inclines downwardly into the soil to be embedded therein and thus prevents the front edge of the driver striking the rear edge of the plate I0.

I5 represents the ball support which is preferably made of rubber. The support has a circular base flat on its under face and of a diameter such that it may be inserted downwardly through the central openings of the plates 9 and I0.

At two diametrically opposite points the base of the support I5 is provided with the radially eX- tending toes I6, which are of such length as to be insertable down through the notches in the plates v9 and ID and whichwhen the ball support is turned ninety degrees engage under the metal plate 9.

The position of the ball support when it is to be inserted in or removed from the base is illustrated in Fig. 3. Its position when turned ninety degrees so that the toes I6 engage under the plate 9 is illustrated in Fig. l. The base of the ball support I5 may be reenforced by a perforated metal plate Il embedded in the rubber of the base as indicated in Fig. 3.

As the ball support is inserted downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3 the toes I6 engage the seats 8 and when the ball support is rotated ninety degrees to bring it into the position shown in Fig. 1 the nipple 6 is rotated with the support. It is obvious that by continuing this rotation of the ball support and the nipple in the proper direction the nipple may be caused to move upwardly or downwardly in the bushing 5, thus raising or lowering the ball support to suit the player or the particular stroke to be made.

The outer walls of the ball support converge upwardly but the top surface of said ball support is concaved as at I8 to provide a seat to receive the ball which is indicated at I9 in Fig. 1.

If desired, each player may have his own ball support and install it in the base before driving olf, each time adjusting the ball support by its rotation with the nipple 6, and tee up the ball to the desired elevation, or each tee may be provided with its own ball support, each player adjusting it as may be desired before driving off.

Referring now to Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive, in this instance the base Ia is provided at its top with a dovetailed transversely disposed recess 20 in which is removably mounted a block 2I having a dovetailed tongue on its under surface and having a flat top surface. The block 2I is provided with a circular seat 22. 23 is a metal plate having a central opening 24 of less diameter than that of the seat 22 so that the plate 23 overhangs said seat. 25 is a rubber plate superimposed on the plate 23 and both plates are secured to the base as by the screws 26. The plate 25 has a central opening 2'I matching the opening 24 in the plate 23 and at two diametrically opposite points the plates 23 and 25 are provided with radially extending notches 28 which extend outwardly to substantially the full diameter of the seat 22.

29 is a circular rubber block whose body is of the proper diameter to enter the circular holes 24 and 21 of the two plates and at its base said block is provided with two diametrically opposed radially extending toes 30 which are of proper size to move down through the notches 28, and when the block is turned at right angles from its position illustrated in Fig. 8 into its position illustrated in Fig. 6 the toes 30 will engage under the metal plate 23 and thus hold the block in place. At its center the block 29 is provided with a downwardly tapering hole 3l in which the stem of the wooden tee 32 may be inserted, the ball being mounted on the wooden tee 32. By regulating the insertion of the wooden tee 32 into the hole 3I the elevation of the ball may be properly adjusted.

In this last described embodiment of my invention the players would usually carry with them their wooden tees and when driving off at each hole would insert them in the block 3 I.

It is evident from the foregoing that by the use of my device the destruction of the turf and the digging up of the soil on the tees of a golf course would be entirely avoided. Thus there Would be no necessity of moving the tee from one location to the other to enable the ground to be repaired and the turf to regrow. In the case of practice tees or tees used for instruction, the tearing up of the turf and the destruction of the ground surface would be entirely avoided.

Again by the use of my invention a skillful player is enabled to properly adjust the elevation of his ball for each desired tee-stroke and thus greater accuracy is obtained.

Other striking advantages will appear to those skilled in the game of golf.

l. In a golf tee, the combination of a base member formed of substantially rigid material arranged tol be permanently embedded in the soil and provided with a threaded bore, a nipple screwed into said bore and adjustable therein, said nipple having opposed seats cut into its upper end, and a ball support arranged to be stepped into the upper end of said bore and provided with radial toes to engage said seats, and a cover plate for said bore having a central opening and opposed radial notches whereby by turning said ball support into one position it may be inserted intosaid bore and engage said seats and when turned into another position the ball support may be.A

removed from the base.

2. In a golf tee structure, the combination of a vbase member arranged to be permanently embedded in the ground and provided with a seat in its upper portion and said seat being provided With an overhanging interrupted flange, a ball support having an under portion shaped to be downwardly inserted through the flange into said seat and provided with radially extending means,

clearance for which is provided by the interrup-` support having an under portion shaped to bev downwardly inserted through the flange into said seat and provided With radially extending means, clearance for which is provided by the interruption of the flange While the ball support is being inserted downwardly into the seat but the ball support being rotated after its insertion to bring the radially extending means beneath the flange, said ball support being formed of elastic material such as rubber and with a top surface shaped to receive a golf ball.

4. In a golf tee structure, the combination of a base member arranged to be permanently embedded in the ground and provided with a seat in its upper portion and said seat being provided with an overhanging interrupted ange, al1-(5 ball support having an under portion shaped to be downwardly inserted through the iiange into said seat and provided with radially extending means, clearance for which is provided by the interruption of the iiange while the ball support is being inserted downwardly into the seat but the ball support being rotated after its insertion to bring the radially extending means beneath the flange, said ball support being formed of elastic material such as rubber and being provided with a vertically disposed opening into which the stem of a wooden tee may be downwardly inserted.

5. In a golf tee structure, the combination of a base arranged to be permanently embedded in the ground and provided with a vertical threaded bore and an interrupted annular flange overhanging the bore, a nipple screwed in said bore, a ball support having an under portion formed to be inserted downwardly through the flange into the bore, and radially extending means on said ball support, clearance for which is provided by the interruption of the ange when the ball support is inserted downwardly in the bore and the ball support being rotated after its insertion to bring the radially extending means beneath the iiange.

6. In a golf tee structure, the combination of a base adapted to be sunk into the ground and provided with a seat in its upper portion, and a block of resilient material fitting in said seat, said block being provided with a vertical hole of proper length and diameter so that the tapered stem of a conventional wooden tee pin may be forced down therein, said hole being so shaped that the resilient material which forms the wall of said hole will grip the said stem so that the tee-pin may be adjusted so as to support a golf ball at the elevation desired by the individual player.

DAN J. HORVATH. 

